charlottesville

I just got back from a week in Charlotte – which was fine – but I missed a whole week of camp. A whole damn week of camp.

I remember last monday like it was yesterday, only it was last week instead. I loaded in the car like I always do on Mondays, but instead of arriving at camp 10 minutes later, Tank and I were held captive in the car for hours. Multiple hours. It was so painful.

Once we got there I was so distracted by all of the change and commotion that I nearly forgot how devastated I had decided to be about missing camp. I barely had time to use the outdoor facilities before Tank was in the pool. So typical.

He’s so ridiculous. He spent most of his waking hours sunning himself, swimming, and drinking by the pool.

I was so angry that I was robbed of this week at camp that I spent most of it on the couch, napping. It was like I traded lives with Tank. Nobody seemed to care that it was Toby and my anniversary. I mean seriously, where is the compassion people?

We finally came home on Sunday, after another torturously long car ride, and I finally made my grand return to camp on Monday.

Now, this is not one of those stories where the main character experiences one challenging situation and then it’s all home free and sunny days. This is a story of struggle – of my struggle.

Monday I made it back to camp, and let me tell you, it was glorious. I played, I sunned, I generally socialized with any and all other living beings. It was like being at a 5 star resort, and then suddenly, it was time to go.

I woke up this morning to the worst realization of all – it’s Tuesday. A mother-sniffing work from home day where I don’t get to go to camp. It’s my worst day of the week.

After my morning coffee (or the coffee of whoever left theirs on the table) I was ready to go. I wanted to do something, I wanted adventure! Instead, I got to watch the news with Tank on the couch. Thrilling.

By lunch I was considering going on the lam. Someone thought it was an ingenious idea to work outside to multi-task and get to enjoy the day. Well guess what, ‘someone’ was not full of great ideas today. It was 90 degrees. I live in a fur coat. I was not amused.

It was like torture. Seriously. If someone told me I had to be a stay at home Bug, well I’d be packing my napsack and hitting the road before you could say treat. You want to waste your day sitting around and ‘working?’ Well, I ain’t got time for that.

Thankfully tomorrow is another camp day so you don’t need to worry. As long as I get dropped off by 9am no one will have to get hurt. I’m campaigning for a camp bus for next year – I swear it’s the only way I’ll get there on time.

I’m reporting to you directly from home because, once again, I’m home from camp. I haven’t seen Toby or any of my friends for over two weeks, and I’m miserable. If I have to watch Tank sleep through one more criminal minds marathon I’m going to chew the faces off of all his favorite men. Yeah, that’s right. I’ve spiraled down into a dark place and I’ve got the cabin fever.

I’m on meds again, and hoping to be back on all four paws by the weekend. On Saturday, camp is having a pet adoption event that I’m dying to go to, so lets all hope the meds work their magic and I can go. I’ve been asking for a little brother so that Tank and I can officially start our band, so I’m constantly shopping around. We’ve already decided his name will be scooter. It just fits in with the vibe of our group.

Aside from that I’ve got very little to report – just a lot of same toys, different day action around here with a few freedom walks sprinkled in.

Santa’s coming! Seriously, we’re less than three days away from his arrival and I’m freaking out. It’s my first Christmas and I am committed to staying up to see Santa and his reindeer. I’m not sure what his plan is since I don’t have a chimney, but it’s freakin’ Santa so I’m sure he’ll figure it out.

I sleep in direct eyesight of the tree so it’s pretty much a sure thing. I’m going to leave some of my cookies out – they’re pretty tasty if you ask me. I’ve been a little naughty this year so it’s gonna take some bells and whistles to rebound onto the nice list.

In the spirit of giving Tank and I have been collecting donations for local homeless shelters and other four legged friends. We’ve been getting some sweet bed, blanket and food donations from our buddies at Pure Barre to support the food and blanket drive we’re having at camp.

these are some sweet colors!

Tank brought the first load over when he picked me up from camp yesterday. He’s been really getting into the holiday spirit so he wore his full holiday uniform.

santa’s little helper.

Everyone loves it when Tank comes to get me so we got a few extra Christmas cookies before we went home.

I LOVE christmas cookies!

Tank was so excited he lost his hat for a minute, but I got it secured back on before we ventured out into the cold. I also un-popped his collar because lets be real, it’s just not cute.

I’m off from camp until Monday and am going to be heading in to spread a little more cheer and drop off the last load of stuff right before Christmas. I have a ton of things on my to-do list this weekend and am not sure how I’m going to get ready in time, but I’ve fueled up and am probably going to just pull an all-nighter.

Thankfully there are Christmas movies almost 24-7 on the movie channels so I’m going to just get in the zone.

Good luck with all of your holiday prep, and stay away from the malls. They’re cray.

I’m almost to embarrassed to write this post, but I’m committed to being honest in our relationship with you as the reader and me as the writer, and I will hold to my word.

This week has been very difficult for me. I got the runs. And I got them bad.

In the early hours of monday morning I heard a rumbling in my tummy, and it happened. It all happened, at once. I was so ashamed but I was overcome with urgency and shame all at once and while I always try to stay proud and keep my chin up – I couldn’t make it happen this time. I curled up in the corner and cried. Yep, I admit it. I took to tears, and I’ll never forget it.

I was found that way in the morning when Tank came to get my for breakfast. By that time my belly was being much better and I thought that I was approaching my own freedom from the experience, but I was wrong.

Not only did I not get any breakfast, but I also was kept home from camp and forced to take a bath. It was horrible. I was so cold, and the shivering from the shower just brought my right back to the dark hours in the corner of my crate.

I’ve had a few dark days, I’m not going to lie. I fell into a deep depression, and was consumed by my personal shame.

dont’ look at me.

There were moments when I couldn’t even get out of bed. I didn’t think I would ever feel happiness again. My favorite babies lay next to me, neglected and lifeless.

there is no joy.

Tank tried to console me, but he was still living a rich life full of food, treats, and doing exactly what he loves the most: napping. It’s cool that he likes it, but it’s not for me. I need more action.

I finally went back to camp Tuesday to give it a shot and then took another day off on Wednesday to recover. I tried to lay low on the couch and just chill with my roomies so I could have full energy for camp again today.

yo.

It paid off. Camp was ah-mazinnnng! Not only did I get to see Toby, but I got to stay in during nap and be Santa’s little helper, putting together holiday treats for all the other campers.

willpower is no friend of mine.

I’m an awesome helper, but my recent days of starvation made me it really difficult not to just bury my face in the treat bowl and eat my way out. I mean, come on people, this is like worse than the Hunger Games.

I was pretty beat when I got home tonight but I am finally back to my own food (no more chicken + rice for this girl). I’m hitting the sack early tonight because I’m pulling back to back days at camp so I need to make sure I’m recharged.

Tank and I had fallen into a post-thanksgiving lull, and JUST got to the holiday decorations this weekend. I know, I know, we’re slacking, but the important thing is we did it. And we did it with bells on.

We made a little vlog (video blog), a little holiday jingle if you will, so please, share our experience. Tank says he doesn’t really like the holidays, but it’s amazing how flashy he gets with the jazz hands when the tunes are on and he thinks no one is watching. That guy is so jolly, he just hides it.

tank loves his christmas balls

yep.

the star can get pretty high, so i do it first

and the dancing has begun!

jaaaazzzz hands!

yeah, those are just our snowflakes.

boom.

he’s a caroler. don’t let the glasses & hat fool you. It’s Tank.

oopa!

punkin pie?

happy christmukah to all my friends!

Well there you have it. Our weekend in a nutshell. I’m hitting the hay early because I have camp tomorrow, but if you want the full recap click here and watch our adventure.

I didn’t know anything about it until Monday in the play yard when everyone was talking about camp being closed on Thursday. I don’t actually go to camp on Thursdays, but just knowing that it was going to be closed sent me into an emotional spiral.

Needless to say I was completely unprepared. Adding to the confusion, on Tuesday night at dinner Tank declared that this year he would be celebrating Tanksgiving and demanded that he be given breakfast in bed and showered with gifts all day long – which basically sounds like every day of his life.

SPOILED.

I knew I needed to consult a better resource so I went the only resource I can trust: google. Because seriously people, if it’s on the internet, it’s true.

So here’s what I learned.

1. It’s all about the poultry. Everything apparently revolves around silly fat birds and I knew I wanted to make an impression at my first Turkey Day so I dug in to some practical research.

Tank taught me how to cut.

get those giblets!

…and stuff it.

2. It’s supposedly a holiday marking a meal between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans.

just ridiculous.

I don’t really understand what that’s about, but I can tell you one thing – I’m not dressing up like no pilgrim anytime soon.

3. Food. Everyone says it’s about friends & families and being thankful, but I mostly found recipes and pictures of food. I’m really trying to keep off the holiday weight so this news does not bode well for my training diet.

I was totally gung-ho about this Turkey chopping holiday and for nothing. The mom’s didn’t stay home for dinner so I was forced to stay home watching Band of Brothers with Tank having him recount old war stories and constantly cleaning my ears.

this is my life.

Four hours (and I’m certain several ear infections) later I was able to snag my first fallen scrap of Turkey from their leftovers and got so sleepy I couldn’t even enjoy it. I should have just packed up my backpack and checked into the overnight hotel at camp but I couldn’t do that to Tank on his own personal holiday.

All I can say is next year if I don’t get to carve that bird, someone is going to experience a world of hurt.

I’m back at camp tomorrow and I could not be more excited. I’m so over this weekend.

Dudes, it is super chill ville outside these days! Sometimes even my jacket doesn’t feel like enough on the cold camp mornings and I’ve started to look into means of keeping warm: hats. They’ve got to be cool though, I’m not just putting any old thing on this noggin.

this one is BEAR-Y cute.

In the mornings, Tank is always the first one at my crate to demand my release from my iron prison (it’s really pretty cozy and warm… don’t tell anyone). Once I’ve been granted freedom, I do my stretches – a little down dog, a few up dogs, and some deep breathing to loosen up. Tank usually stays with me to lick my ears, eyes, and paws, which is nice (I’m the cleanest kid at camp) but I’m totally going to catch a cold heading out into the yard with wet ears. It’s important that I keep them warm, they’re how I hear things and let me tell you, without sharp hearing at camp you will miss the best gossip.

Blonde mommy helps me with my style and we’ve found some pretty sweet looks for the winter. The trouble is Tank – he keeps trying to steal my look, and I’m like, dude, you’re sweet looking and I want you to have cool style, but you need to find your own.

he tried. I didn’t love it.

I still haven’t found the best hat look for me, but I’m committed to the goal. I know it’s going to be super important once the snow gets here. I still have my fingers crossed that Santa is bringing me Pugz (Uggs for pups) because if there’s one thing I hate more than cold wet ears, it’s cold wet piggies.

Yesterday was especially cold in the morning and I almost considered skipping camp. That’s totally not like me, especially on day’s when I know my boyfriend Toby is going to be there because we’ve already got such limited time together. I was waiting for my mommy to drive me to camp and got a brilliant idea. It was actually Tank’s constant burrowing in blankets and beds that inspired me – I don’t know why I didn’t think of it earlier.

ain’t no party like a bugrito party!

I’m going to do all of my outside travels as a BUGRITO! It’s genius. I mean, instead of having to carry my nap bed all the way to camp, I’ll just wrap it around me burrito style to keep me warm, and then once I’m safe at camp, BOOM, my bed is there too. And let me tell you, there is some super warm fluff in this thing. I mean, obviously I’ve got a fur coat already, but this one is super sweet and for all those haters out there, the fur is totally fake. Believe me, I triple checked that.

Since I hit camp a full three days this week Tank and I are chillin’ like villans at home this weekend, just catching up on our programs this week (hello, The Voice LIVE ROUNDS started!) and surfing the net. I’m finding some pretty awesome things so I’ll be sure to share them with you.